Little Belle's Mama

July 2017 holds a special place in my heart. It was one of those trips that becomes a core memory—something you look back on during quiet moments and smile about, sometimes even laugh at. It was a road trip that started at our home in the west of Germany and took us through some of Austria’s most charming cities: Salzburg, Hallstatt, and Vienna. It wasn’t just any holiday. It was our way of celebrating two things at once: my husband’s birthday and our anniversary as a couple. A double celebration on the open road.

My husband was the sole driver on this adventure. I don’t have a driver’s license, so all the navigating behind the wheel was his job, and he did it like a champ. I kept him company, of course, with a curated playlist, snacks, and lots of excited commentary about the views. And what views they were! The landscape between Germany and Austria is nothing short of breathtaking, especially during the summer. Every curve of the road revealed something new—rolling green hills, sparkling lakes, charming little towns, and those majestic mountains in the distance that look like they’re straight out of a storybook.

Our first real stop was Salzburg. We stayed there for two nights, which gave us enough time to explore without feeling rushed. Salzburg is a city that seems to sing, quite literally—it’s the birthplace of Mozart, after all. Walking around, there’s a sense of history and elegance that’s hard to miss. We strolled along the Salzach River and admired the baroque architecture. One of our favorite spots was the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It towers over the city and the views from up there are worth every step. You can see rooftops stretching out into the distance and the surrounding green countryside wrapping around the city like a protective hug.

We also wandered through Mirabell Gardens, which looked like a painting in real life. The flowers were in full bloom, and everything was so perfectly arranged it almost didn’t seem real. There’s something very calming about walking through a garden like that with someone you love. It was peaceful and quietly beautiful. We ate at small cafés and local restaurants, tasting Austrian cuisine for the first time. My husband tried schnitzel (of course), and I remember enjoying a plate of käsespätzle, cheesy little noodles that were just the right mix of comforting and rich. It felt like a little world of its own—calm, elegant, welcoming.

From Salzburg, we made a stop in Hallstatt on our way to Vienna. Now, Hallstatt deserves its own love letter. Nothing prepares you for how magical it feels when you first see it. The town seems to float between mountain and lake, as though it’s been carefully placed there by hand. The lake is so still and reflective that it looks like glass, mirroring the colorful houses and steep cliffs that surround it. We had to stop more than once just to take it all in. At one point, we simply parked and stood in silence, not even talking, just breathing in the fresh air and staring at the view. It was that beautiful.

We took dozens of photos, though none of them truly captured what we were seeing. Sometimes a place is just too stunning for a camera to do it justice. Hallstatt had this quiet charm that made time feel like it slowed down. We didn’t stay overnight, but we explored as much as we could, walking through the narrow lanes, admiring the old buildings, and watching swans glide across the lake. It felt like stepping into a postcard. We even found a tiny café by the water where we had coffee and shared a slice of cake. It was such a simple moment, but it felt perfect.

And then, we were off to Vienna. The drive from Salzburg to Vienna was probably one of the most scenic routes I’ve ever been on. We passed so many lakes and each one seemed more beautiful than the last. The kind of beauty that makes you pull over and just be there for a while. We did exactly that. More than once. We stopped, got out of the car, breathed in the fresh air, stretched our legs, and took more photos. It was never part of the plan, but sometimes the best moments aren’t. They just happen.

When we finally arrived in Vienna, it was already evening. Our hotel was a five-star one, and we got it at a discounted price, which made us feel like we’d won the jackpot. It was one of those elegant places where everything feels just a little extra—extra soft bedsheets, extra fluffy towels, and staff that greeted us like we were regulars. It felt luxurious without being over-the-top, and it was the perfect base for exploring the city.

Vienna is grandeur in city form. Every building seems to tell a story, and everywhere you turn, there’s something beautiful to look at. We spent three nights there, and every day was packed with discoveries. One of the absolute highlights was our visit to Schönbrunn Palace. It’s enormous and dazzling. You can easily spend hours just walking around the gardens and not see it all. Inside, the rooms are filled with history, gold details, and ornate furnishings. It’s the kind of place that makes you whisper without meaning to, as though speaking too loudly might break the magic.

We also did some window shopping along the Graben and Kärntner Straße, Vienna’s famous shopping streets. I remember how lively the atmosphere was, with street musicians playing classical music and the smell of coffee and pastries wafting through the air. That’s when I saw it. The dress. My first Ted Baker dress. It was displayed in the window like it was meant just for me. I walked in “just to look,” but the moment I tried it on, I knew I wasn’t leaving without it. It cost 250€, and I still remember the exact amount because it was the most I had ever spent on a dress. But it was love at first sight. The cut, the fabric, the color—it made me feel beautiful, like I was stepping into a new version of myself. Since then, I’ve worn it on special occasions, and every time I do, I remember that trip and how happy I felt.

We continued exploring Vienna’s landmarks, each one more impressive than the last. We visited the Belvedere Palace and admired Klimt’s famous painting The Kiss. The building itself is as much of a masterpiece as the artwork inside. We also wandered around the MuseumsQuartier and popped into the Albertina Museum, which had an exhibit that caught both our interests. We spent an afternoon at Prater Park, where we rode the giant Ferris wheel and got a fantastic view of the whole city. It was such a playful contrast to the palaces and museums, and we loved it.

The food in Vienna was another highlight. From breakfast buffets at the hotel to cozy dinners in traditional restaurants, we ate our way through the city with joy. We tried Sachertorte at Café Sacher, a slice of rich chocolate heaven. We drank wine in candle-lit rooms and had open-air lunches with the hum of the city in the background. Every meal felt like a little celebration.

Our final day in Vienna was bittersweet. We didn’t want to leave. But like all good things, the trip had to come to an end. On the drive back home to the west of Germany, we both stayed quiet for stretches at a time, just thinking. The mountains and lakes that had dazzled us on the way in seemed to wave goodbye as we passed them again. It was the kind of silence that comes when you’re full—not just from food or experiences, but from joy. Real joy.

Looking back, that road trip was more than just a holiday. It was a celebration of where we were in life at that moment. My husband turning another year older, and us marking another year together as a couple. It was a reminder that sometimes the best way to celebrate life is simply to go somewhere new, with someone you love, and let the road take you there.

No grand plan, no pressure to see everything. Just the open road, the mountains, the lakes, the cities, the laughter, the little detours, and the dress that made me feel like a million euros. That summer in 2017 gave us memories that are stitched into our hearts. And I wouldn’t change a thing.